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Animal health board rescinds testing orders

North Dakota has dropped additional testing requirements for most cattle entering the state from Minnesota and Montana.

The State Board of Animal Health voted to rescind order 2008-01. Beef cattle, camelids and goats from most areas of Minnesota will no longer need to be tested for tuberculosis prior to being brought into North Dakota. Requirements for these animals from the Modified Accredited zone in northwestern Minnesota remain in effect

The board will continue to require a certificate of veterinary inspection, an import permit number and official identification for animals from the rest of Minnesota. TB testing requirements for rodeo and dairy cattle from all states are still in place.

State Veterinarian Susan Keller said dealing with tuberculosis is difficult.

“The board made its decision based on current science and on the surveillance and management actions that have been taken to minimize the risk of the movement of tuberculosis,” Keller said in a statement. “We need to recognize proactive and effective actions that other states have taken to prevent the movement of disease out of their states as well as within their states.”

Agriculture Commissioner Doug Goehring said he supports the board’s decision.

“Recognizing the work that has been accomplished over the past few years by the Minnesota Board of Animal Health, including the depopulation of a large number of cattle and extensive wildlife surveillance, I believe that our board’s action is justified,” he said in a statement.

The board also voted to rescind Board Order 2009-01 and to recognize Montana’s designated surveillance area for brucellosis.

Keller said Montana is monitoring cattle producers in the designated surveillance area to ensure adequate testing and management practices are in place to minimize the chance of brucellosis spreading outside of that area.

The board’s actions are effective immediately.

Keller urges people importing animals into North Dakota to contact her office at 701-328- 2655 for detailed importation requirements.